Er Rashid submits bill ‘to keep Art 35A out of court premises’

Bivek Mathur. Updated: 12/31/2017 11:25:58 PM

JAMMU: The upcoming budget session of State Assembly is likely to begin on a stormy note as independent legislator, Engineer Rashid who represents the Langate Constituency of Kashmir division has moved a private member bill in the Assembly Secretariat that demanded a discussion in the Lower House to keep the Article 35A of the state constitution “out of the court premises.”Already the Supreme Court had put off its hearing on multiple petitions challenging the validity of the Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives special rights and privileges to people of Jammu and Kashmir until January 30, 2018 as centre had intended to hold negotiations with various stakeholders in the state through its interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma.“I want Article 35A of the Constitution to remain out of the premises of the courts forever. So, I’ve moved a private member bill in the Assembly Secretariat to hold discussion on my bill so that it could be passed by both houses of the legislatures,” the MLA Langate, Engineer Rashid told The News Now.“I hope good sense will prevail on the government and my bill will be taken up for discussion,” Rashid said. Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) State President, Sat Sharma (CA) said, “As the Supreme Court had adjourned all the matters related to Article 35A for three months, I, on behalf of BJP don’t want to comment on the bill moved by Engineer Rashid. However, our party’s stand on Article 35A is open to one and all.”“So, what I can personally guess is-even the Assembly would not allow any discussion on any bill related to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma said, referring to the matter being subjudice.Earlier in the year 2015 also, Engineer Rashid had moved a bill in the Legislative Assembly seeking debate on the Article 35A, but according to him, his bill was deliberately not taken up for discussion by the PDP-BJP dispensation.